Apparatus for use in cleaning and polishing automobiles



1929- L. J. WILDE ET AL 1,713,01

APPARATUS FOR USE IN CLEANING AND POLISHING AUTOMOBILE Filed April 1, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS Lou/5 J. WILDE BEE. K. GILLESP/E A TTORNEYS.

May 14, 1929., J. WILDE ETAL APPARATUS FOR USE IN CLEANING AND POLISHING AUTOMOBILES Filed April 1925 2Sheets-Sheet A 5 Q MN ME M VHBL WW M 5K wE E .5

Patented May 14, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,713,014 PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS J. WILDE AND BEE K. GILLESPIE, 01? L03 ANGEIJES, CALIFORNIA.

APPARATUS FOR USE IN CLEANING AND POLISHING AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed April 1, 1925. Serial No. 19,921.

Our invention relates to andhas for its purpose the provision of an apparatus by which the performance of the several operations necessary in the cleaning and polish- 6 ing of automobiles bothinteriorly and exteriorly is greatly facilitated, and in such manner that any number of automobiles can be cleaned and polished successively and in rapid order.

It is also a purpose of our invention to provide an apparatus of the above described character which is extremely compact so as to cover a minimum area of ground and thus permit of its being used in relatively small 15 city lots.

We will describe only two forms of aparatus for cleaning and polishin automoiles embodying our invention, an will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view showing in top plan one form of apparatus for cleaning and polishing automobiles embodying our invention with the inclosure and the dividing partition in horizontal section.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figures 3 and 4 are fragmentary sectional views taken on the lines 3-3 and 4-4, respectively, of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of the apparatus embodied in preceding views. 1

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 8-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail fragmentary perspective view of one of the conveyer chains embodied in the apparatus shown in the preceding views.

Figure 8 is a plan view in modified form of the apparatus embodying our invention, with the inclosure in horizontal section.

ltlill'lllill reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

deterring specifically to the drawings and particularly to Figure 1, our invention in its present embodiment comprises an inclosurc or building h oli elongated "torrn adapted to overlie a pair oil attenuated pits P and i termed in the ground and arranged in spaced parallel relation with their ends terminating short oi' the ends of the building. Between the pits l and i is a co-eatensive working platter W divided longitudinally by means bill chains.

of a partition T extendingupwardly from the platform as clearly shown in Figure 2.

Mounted for movement within the pits P and P are endless conveyers C and C, and as the construction and supporting means for both of the conveyers is identical, a description of one will suffice for both. The conveyer G comprises a pair of endless chains and 16 connected at regular spaced intervals by cross ties 17 by means of bolts 18 extending through the ties and secured in openings 19 formed in the links of the The chains 15 and 16 are trained about sprocket wheels 20 and 21 arranged in pairs at opposite ends of the pit P and secured to shafts 22 and 23, respectively, journaled in uprights 24. As shown in Figure 3, the bottom of the pit P is provided with a pair of wear plates 25 on which the lower stretch of the conveyer is supported. The

upper stretch of the conveyer is supported on angle bars 26 and 27 the latter being provided at its inner edge with a flange 27 which operates to maintain the chain 15 against inward displacement from the bar.

As clearly shown in Figure 7, the chain 15 is made up of links, U-shaped in cross section as shown in Figure 6 and with each link provided at one side with a tooth 28. The several teeth 28 of the links are'disposed at the outer side of the chain for engagement with a driving chain 29 trained about sprocket wheels 30 and 31 journaled in uprights 32. The sprocket wheel 30, as clearly shown in Figure 4, is adapted to be constantly driven from the shaft 33 of a motor 34, the shaft being operatively connected to the sprocket wheel through gears 35. In the association of the sprocket wheels 30 and 31 and the driving chain 29, they are interposed between the two conveyors C and C so that the two stretches of the driving chain are in operative engagement with the teeth 28 of the chains 15 of the conveyors C and C, so that when the sprocket wheel 30 is driven in the counter-clockwise directionas when viewed in Figure l, the upper stretches out the con veyers U and G will be constantly driven in opposite directions as indicated by the ar-' rows in Figure 1..

has shown in Figure 1, the building id is provided with an entrance opening 86 through which the automobiles to'be washed and polished enter the building. Adjacent the entrance opening is a plat'lorrn 37 which as clearly shown in Figure 2, is, disposed in llU is provided for rotation about an axis 39 and to receive vehicles from the discharge end of the conveyer C and to permit bodily movement of the vehicles to the entrance end of the conveyer C so that under the movement of the latter conveyer they will be ultimately returned to the platform 37. This turntable 38 is adapted to be manually rotated but it is to be understood that if desired it can be mechanically driven in any suitable manner.

In practice, the automobiles to be cleaned and polished are successively discharged from the latform 37 onto the conveyer O, and with t e latter-slowly rotating it will be clear that each vehicle is slowly moved in the direction of the turn-table 38. During travel of any one vehicle along the conveyer C, it is subjected to the several operations necessary in the cleaning of the vehicle both interiorly and exteriorly. As each vehicle reaches the inner end of the 'conveyer C, it is discharged upon the turn-table 38 whence by rotating the turn-table the vehicle can be pre-' sented and moved onto the conveyer C under the movement of the conveyer C the vehicle slowly travels forwardl toward the plat form 37, and. during suc movement further cleaning operations are performed and finally the polishing operation so that when the vehicle reaches the platform 37 it is completely cleaned and polished; By arranging the eonveyers G and C spaced from each other and from the sides of the building, it will be clear that suitable platforms are provided upon which the operators may stand while performing the cleaning and polishing operations.

Referring now to Figure 8, we have here shown a modified form of apparatus embodying our invention in which an L-shaped inclosure or building B is provided particularly designed for use on a corner lot. Conveyors K and K, similar to the conveyers C and C, are consequently driven in the direction of the arrows by means of motors M and M. Interposed between the conveyers is a turn-table T by which vehicles discharged from the inner end of the conveyer K can be moved and introduced onto the conveyer K for ultimate discharge from the building. As in the first form of our invention, the conveyers are arranged to slowly move vehicles and in such manner as to permit the vehicles to be subjected to the several operations necessary to the cleaning and polishing of a motor vehicle.

Although we have herein shown and described only two forms of apparatus for cleaning and polishing automobiles embodying our invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In apparatus for use in cleaning and polishing automobiles, a floor structure having incorporated therewith parallel oppositely-traveling s )accd-apart endless conveying elements disposed substantially flush with the upper surface of the floor structure and adapted to permit an automobile to be run directly from the floor surface onto one of said elements so that the automobile may be conveyed in one direct-ion and with its front end facing the direction of movement of the element, and means between the two elements to cause a transfer of the automobile to the second one of the elements with its front end facing the direction of movement of the element, and means associated with said conveying elements for sustaining the load of automobiles while the automobiles are in course of translation and for permitting the automobiles to advance with said elements. Y 2. In apparatus for use in cleaning and polishing automobiles, a floor structure having conveying means incorporated flat-wise therewith and substantially flush with the upper surface of the floor structure and including mating parallel traveling portions movable respectively in opposite directions, one of said traveling portions adapted to permit an automobile to be directly impelled thereunto from the floor structure and to assume a osition on said portion where it will travel t ierewith, means functioning by virtue of the second said traveling portion to cause the automobile to be returned to its point of induction to the apparatus from whence it originated and back onto the floor structure, and means associated with said traveling portions to sustain the load of an automobile while in transit.

3. In apparatus for use while performing manual operations upon automobiles in transit, a floor structure including an entrance and an exit, mechanism incorporated in the floor structure and including spaced-apart traveling portions movable, res ectivcly, in difi'erent direct-ions, one away mm the entrance and the other toward the exit, and adapted to permit automobiles to be moved thereby, and means movable in a curvilinear path and arranged in the plane of the said spaced-apart traveling portions to cause antomobiles to be progressively advanced from one of said traveling portions to the other of said traveling portions, the said different moving spaced-apart portions serving in associ'ation with said entrance and said exit to permit automobiles to be received by the mechanism front ends forward from the entrance and to be delivered from the mechanism front ends forward to the exit.

4. In apparatus for use in cleaning and polishing automobiles, a floor structure having conveying means incorporated fiatwise therewith'and substantially flush with the upper surface of the floor structure and including mating parallel traveling portions movable respectively in opposite directions, one of said traveling portions adapted to permit an automobile to be directly impelled thereonto from the floor structure and to as sume a position on said portion where it will travel therewith, and means functioning by virtue of the second said traveling portion to causethe automobile to be returned to its point of induction to the apparatus from whence it originated and back onto the floor structure, means associated with said traveling portions to sustain the loads of automobiles associated therewith while the automobiles are in transit, the said floor structure having platforms arranged at therespective sides of the conveying means and on which operatives may stand in the immediate'presence of automobiles while the latter are in flight.

5. In apparatus for use in cleaning and polishing automobiles, a flopr structure having conveying means incorporated flatwise therewith and substantially flush with the upper surface of the floor structure andineluding mating parallel traveling portions movable respectively in opposite directions, one of said traveling portions adapted to permit an automobile to be directly impelled thereonto from the floor structure and to assume a osition on said portion where it will travel t erewith, means functioning by virtue of the second said traveling portion to cause the automobile to be returned to its point of induction to the apparatus from whence it originated and back onto the floor structure, means associated with said traveling portions to sustain the loads of automobiles While the latter are in transit, the said floor structure having platforms arranged at the respective sides of the conveying means i and on which operatives may stand in the immediate presence of automobiles while the latter are in flight, and a partition following the course occupied by the traveling portions and disposed between the portions wall-like.

6. In apparatus for use while performing manual operations upon automobiles while in flight, a floor structure upon which automobiles may be impelled by the actions of their power plants, and a mechanism mounted flush with the floor structure and embodying parallel traveling portions movable respectively in opposite directions, means associated with said traveling portions to sustain the loads of automobiles while in transit, and a portion at the adjacent extremities of the first said portions at one end thereof movable in a curvilinear path and mounted in the plane of the said first portions and co-acting therewith to cause an automobile when at the end of its flight on one of the first said portions to be transferred onto the other one of the first said traveling ortions.

7. In apparatus for use while performing manual operations upon automobiles while in flight, a floor structure upon which automobiles may be impelled by the actions of their power plants, a mechanism mounted flush with the floor structure and embodying parallel traveling portions movable respectively in opposite directions, means associated with said traveling portions to sustain the loads of automobiles while in transit and a portion at the adjacent extremities of the first said portions at one end thereof movable in a curvilinear path and mounted in the plane of the said first portions and co-acting therewith to cause anautomobile when at the end of its flight on one of the first said portions to be transferred onto the other one of the first said traveling portions, and an entrance and exit platform at the opposite ends of the first said traveling portions.

8. In apparatus for use in performing manual operations upon automobiles while in slow flight, a floor structure, means to cause automobiles to be carried in one direction, means to cause automobiles to be carried in another direction, means supporting the loads of automobiles while positioned upon said first and second said means and a transferring mechanism interposed directly between the first and the second said means so that automobiles may i be progressively discharged from one of said means onto the other of the means, the first and the second said means and said mecha nism mounted flush with the upper surface of the said floor structure.

9. In an apparatus adapted to be used in cleaning and polishing automobiles, a floor structure having a pit, and a plurality of traveling conveyors mounted on horizontal axes in said pit and arranged so that their upper leads are flush with the floor surface so that an automobile can be conducted from the latter to the former or vice versa, means associated with said upper leads of the conveyers for supporting the loads of automobiles while in transit with the conveyers, and means also mounted flush with the floor surface and arranged in co-action with said conveyers so as to permit automobiles to be progressively transferred from one eonveyer to the other and from the latter back to the floor surface.

10. In apparatus for use while performing manual operations upon automobiles in transit, a structure having an entrance and an exit, mechanism for conducting automobiles alongtwo different and se arate paths, one of which is associated wit the entrance to receive automobiles therefrom, and the other permit the automobiles to be conducted to the of which is associated with the exit to deliver mechanism front ends first and to be delivered 10 automobiles thereto, and means embodied in from the mechanism front ends first, and the the mechanism for conducting the automosaid entrance and exit being positioned at biles along a curvilinear path so associated relatively separated points and in the same with said two paths as to effect transposition plane with each other.

of automobiles from one of the said two paths LOUIS J. WILDE.

to the other, the said mechanism operating to BEE K. GILLESPIE. 

